Filling neck protector



Aug. 28; 1934. J. HARKNESS 1,971,714

FILLING NECK PROTECTOR Filed April 28, 1932 Inventor 7weJfirZ2zazs I /Illorney Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,971,714FILLING NECK PROTECTOR James Harkness, Waukegan, 11]. Application April28,1932, Serial No. 608,045

9 Claims. (01. 220-85) My invention relates to a protector for fillingnecks, and particularly to a device for use in connection with thefilling neck of an automobile vehicle fuel tank, and the primary objectof 1 the invention is to provide a device of this char--.

acter which will protect the operator of the vehicle from theft of fuelfrom the tank.

It is also an importantobject of the invention to provide a simplifieddevice of this character which cannot be. removed once it has beeninstalled without mutilating the same, and which will effectivelyvprevent the introduction of a tube or other siphoning means into thetank toa suificient depth to reach the fuel therein, but

5 which will not interfere with the introduction of fuel or the properpassage of air and fumes.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from areading of the following description of the drawing, wherein forpurposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawing:--

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a portion of afuel tank, and associated filling neck. 7

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line5-5 of Figure 3 looking upwardly in the direction of thevarrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view through theupper part of the filling neck showing the lip formation thereon.

Thenumeral 5 generally designates a conventional fuel tank having aconventional filling neck 6 projecting therefrom. The filling neck isconventionally provided with an inturned lip formation generallydesignated "7. at opposite sides of the topof the neck and consistingofa downwardly directed flange 8 having therein the angular cut-outportion 9 and the curved formation 10 defining an entrance for thebayonet members of a conventional fillingneck cap (not produced upon thebayonet members of the cap by reason of their engagement with theangular lower edge 11 of the portion 8.

According to the principles of my invention I provide for placementwithin the filling neck for.

engagement with the lip formations 7 a generally movement of the'device.

cylindrical form designated 12 which may be constructed by rolling asheet of spring metal into a cylinder of a diameter considerably lessthan that of the interior of the filling neck 6 so as to assume thespaced concentric relationship indicated in Figure 2. The upper endportion of the cylindrical form 12 is providedwith circumferentiallyspaced longitudinal cuts resulting in spring fingers 13 which are givenan outwardly curved disposition as indicated in the drawing so that theupper ends thereof will be radially outward of the opening in thefilling neck defined by the depending inturned lip formations 8. Becauseof the spring character of the fingers it is an easy matter to force thecylinder into the filling neck through the opening thereof, as thefingers readily bend and contract to a sufficient degree for thispurpose and expand again when they pass the lip formations. If desired,the edges of the material after rolling into the cylinder may be securedby soldering 14 or other suitable connecting means.

The spring fingers 13 are all of the same length. The fingers 15 and 16are extended above the fingers 13 so as to engage with the underside ofthe inturned lip formations 7 when the device is in the normal positionin the filling neck shown in Figure 2, whereby to prevent rattling andvertical At two diametrically opposite points the cylinder is free ofcuts to provide a comparatively wide spring member 17 which extends to aheight slightly above that of the upper ends of the fingers 15 and 16.The difference in height of the members 17 and the fingers 15, 16 isprovided so that an upper portion of the members 1'7 may engage over andupon the top of the member 7 of the filling neck, in a manner to holdthe upper ends of the fingers l5 and 16 against the lower or inward sideof the members 7.

, Spaced below the upper end of the members 17 is'a pair of verticaltabs or wings slightly vertieally staggered as indicated at 18, 19,these being radially outwardly directed so as to confine therebetweenand engage the opposite ends of a depending portion 20 on the dependinglip portion 8, whereby to prevent relative rotation of the device wheninstalled within the filling neck. The upper end of the tab 18 isarranged slightly elevated above the upper end of the tab 19, so that itwill engage with the depressed end of the edge 11 and cooperate with anupper end portion of the member 17 for holding the device in positionafter installation edge 11 is depressed while the opposite end of theportion 8 has no such 1imita-.

tion, and in order to facilitate screwing the device irito place inconnection with the cam action provided by the angularities 11 of thelip formation.

The upper ends of the members 17 are bent outwardly to provide thelateral radially projected horizontal flanges 21 for engaging upon thetop of the lip formations and the filling neck top 6. These cooperatewith the tabs l8, 19 in producing the desired wedging action between theparts as they are snapped into place. The crescent formation of theflanges 21 is shown in Figure 4.

Within the bottom of the cylinder l2'is'earried a grating supported on atransverse rod 22, the grating being constituted by a spirally bent flatmetallic strip 23 the convolutions of which are traversed by the rod 22which passes through the sides of the cylinder as indicated. Theconvolutions of the spiral gratin 23 are close enough together toprevent the introduction therebetween of a tube of sufiicient size topermit siphoning off any of the fuel in the tank.

It will be obvious that the outwardly directed fin rs revent theintroduction of a siphon tube between the cylinder 12 and the fillingneck and into the tank by their barb action. 7

The protector is installed simply by entering the same partly into thefilling neck and placing the same into a position in which the longfingers l5, 16 are in the openings 9 and the tabs '18, 19 are located atopposite ends of the flange portions 20.

If then the protector is pushed farther into the filling neck, the longfingers will snap into place under the lip formations and the members 17will spring outwardly and place the tabs 18, 19 in position under thelip formations and at either end of the portions 20 thereof.

Though I have shown and described herein a preferred embodimentof theinvention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire tolimit the application of the invention thereto, and any change orchanges may be made in material,

structure and arrangement of parts within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a tank having a filling neck equipped withinwardly positioned flange means, of tubular neck obstructing meansconnectible to the flange means and having portions engageable with theouter side and portions engageable with the inner side of the flangemeans when connected thereto, projections on the inner side of theflange, means engageable by portions of the obstructing means wherebyrelative rotation or" the obstructing means and filling neck ispositively prevented, said obstructing means com prising flexiblemembers arranged to flex upon being contacted by an object introducedinto the filling neck between the filling and the obstructing means soas to positively prevent the further insertion of such object, saidflexible members being arranged to move radially outwardly toward thewalls of thefllling neck when flexed. and guarded opening means in thetubularmeans permitting passage of fluid into the tank.

2. The combination with a tank having a filling neck equipped withinwardly positioned flange means, of neck obstructing means connectibleto the flange means and having portions engageable with the outer sideand with the inner side of the flanged means when connected thereto,projections on the inner side of the flange means engageable by portionsof the obstructing means whereby relative rotation of the obstructingmeans and the filling neck is positively prevented, said obstructingmeans comprising flexible members arranged to flex upon being contactedby an object introduced into the filling neck so as to positivelyprevent the further insertion of such object, said flexible membersbeing adapted to move radially outwardly toward the walls of the fillingneck when flexed, said obstructing means comprising a hollow cylinderopen at its outer end and having guard means at its inner end to passliquid, the walls of the cylinder being spaced from the walls of thefilling neck, so that when the flexible members are flexed so as toapproach the wall of the neck, they obstruct the passage of an insertedobject in the space between the obstructing means and the wall of thefilling neck.

3. The combination with a tank having a filling neck equipped withinwardly positioned flange means, of neck obstructing means connectibleto the flange means and having portions engageable with the outer sideand with the inner side of the flange means when connected thereto,projections on the inner side of the flange means engageable by portionsof the obstructing means whereby rotation of the obstructing meansrelative to the filling neck is positively prevented, said obstructingmeans comprising flexible members arranged to flex upon being contactedby an object introduced into the filling neck so as to positivelyprevent the further insertion of such object,'said flexible membersbeing adapted to move radially outwardly toward the walls of the fillingneck when flexed, said obstructing means comprising a hollow cylinderopen at its outer end and having guard means at its inner end to passliquid, the walls of the cylinder being spaced from the walls of thefilling neck, so that when the flexible members are flexed so as toapproach the wall of the neck, they obstruct the passage of an insertedobject in the space between the obstructing means and the wall of thefilling neck, said flexible members having portions located near theouter end of the hollow cylinder and adapted to be flexed away from theouter end of the cylinder when it is attempted to pass the objectthrough the open outer end of the cylinder and the interior walls of thefilling neck.

4. The combination with a tank having a fillingneck equipped withinwardly positioned flange means, of neck obstructing means oonnectibleto the flange means'and having portions engageable with the-outersideand with the innerside of the flange means when connected thereto,projections on the inner side of the flange means engageable by portionsof the obstructing means whereby rotation of the obstructing meansrelative to the filling neck is positively prevented, said obstructingmeans comprising flexible members arranged to flex upon being contactedby an object introduced into the filling neck so as to positivelyprevent the further insertion of such object, said flexible membersbeing adapted to move radially outwardly toward the walls of the fillingneck when flexed, said obstructing means comprising a hollow cylinderopen at its outer end and having guard means at its inner end to passliquid, the walls of the cylinder being spaced from the walls of thefilling neck, so that when the flexible members are flexed so as toapproach the wall of the neck, they obstruct the passage of an insertedobject in the space between the obstructing means and the wall of thefilling neck, said flexible members having portions located near theouter end of the hollow cylinder and adapted to flex radially outwardlyfrom the outer end of the cylinder when it is attempted to pass theobject between the open outer end of the cylinder and the interior wallsof the filling neck, quick detachable cap securing means on the neck anda cap attachable thereto .and engageable with a portion of theobstructing means to aid in holding the obstructing means in position inthe filling neck and close the filling neck.

5., In a protector for a filling neck, a tube having guard means at itsinner end and arranged to depend within the neck in concentric spacedmanner, means on the upper end of the tube engaging with portions of theupper end of the neck for connecting the tube to the neck and preventingrotation of the tube relative to the neck, portions of the said means onthe upper end of the tube being depressed below the upper end of theneck, slots extending inwardly from the last mentioned portions of upperend of the tube and defining radially outwardly curved barbs, anddiametrically opposed longer barbs whose upper ends engage portions ofthe upper end of the neck for positively preventing withdrawal of thetube from the neck.

6. In a protector for a filling neck having an inwardly directed flange,a tube having guard means at its inner end, laterally directed springmeans on the tube having portions arranged to be engaged by the neckflange and flexed inwardly when the tube is passed into the neck and tospring outwardly below the neck flange and engage portions of the neckflange including under portions thereof for locking the tube againstwithdrawal from and rotation relative to the neck, and outwardlydirected barb means on the tube for preventing insertion of siphon meansbetween the tube and the neck.

7. In a protector for a filling neck having an inwardly directed flange,a tube having guard means at its inner end, laterally directed springmeans on the tube having portions arranged to be engaged by the neckflange and flexed inwardly when the tube is passed into the neck and tospring outwardly below the neck flange and engage portions of the neckflange including under portions thereof for locking the tube againstwithdrawal from and rotation relative to the neck, and outwardlydirected barb means on the tube for preventing insertion of siphon meansbetween the tube and the neck, said barb means comprising spring memberson the upper part of the tube arranged to be engaged and flexed inwardlyby the neck flange when the tube is inserted into the neck and to springoutwardly below the neck flange.

8. In a protector for a filling neck having an inwardly directed flange,a tube having guard means at its inner end, laterally directed springmeans on the tube having portions arranged to be engaged by the neckflange and flexed inwardly when the tube is passed into the neck and tospring outwardly below the neck flange and engage portions of the neckflange including under portions thereof for locking the tube againstwithdrawal from and rotation relative to the neck, and outwardlydirected barb means on the tube for preventing insertion of siphon meansbetween the tube and the neck, said barb means comprising spring memberson the upper part of the tube arranged to be engaged and flexed inwardlyby the neck flange when the tube is inserted into the neck and to springoutwardly below the neck flange, the upper end of some of said springmembers being spaced below the neck flange and others of the springmembers being upwardly extended to engage the underside of the neckflange for positively preventing withdrawal of the tube from the neck.

9. A protector for a filling neck having an inwardly curved flangeformed with depending portions, a tube having guard means therein, theupper portion of the tube being slit longitudinally to form springfingers which are curved outwardly, some of said fingers being longerthan the others, the long fingers engaging under the flange, portions ofthe tube extending above the fingers and having their upper ends bentoutwardly to form flanges for resting on the top 01 v the flange andsaid portions having vertically arranged outwardly extending projectionsthereon for receiving the depending portions of the flange between them,the upper edges of some of said projections engaging portions of thefree edge of the flange.

JAMES HARKNESS.

